Folding machine and method



.June 3,1930. l L J,LAMBERT 1,761,017

FOLDING MACHINE AND METHOD FilefLApril 9, i924 5 sheets-sheet l "i" l By JM l.. J. LAMBERT 'Y FOLDING MACHINE AND METHOD D June 3, 19310.

Filed April 9, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inve'nbof Leo elLaftn/bert/ By. .MM M

H/t/tomey June 3, 1930 I L. J. LAMBERT 1,761,017

v A FOLDING' MACHINE AND METHOD Filed April 9, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 111,1/ entof" l Leo JL ambez BMM lit/torn eg June 3, 1930. L. .1. LAMBERT I FOLDING MACHINE AND METHOD 5 Sheecs-SheefI 4 Filed April 9, 1924 June 3,. 1930. 1 J. LAMBERT 1,761,017

FOLDING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed April' 9, 1924 5 sheets-sheet 5 1 3 [aven/ or Leo J Lambet Patented dune 3, 1930 areE.s

' Lief-ien Errol-1.

LEo J. LAMBERT, or SALEM, MAssAcnnsErrs, assienon, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To `rmrTEE siren MacninEEY coaronarrcn, ra'rEEson, new JERSEY, A oonroeeA TION OF NEXV JERSEY Appnation sie@ April e,

are generally provided with a folder or plow for initiating a fold in successive portions of the margin of the shoe upper, and with a fold presser that presses down the successive folds thus initiated into contact with the body of y the upper. It is desirable that the contacting parts of the margin and of the body of the upper be symmetrically disposed to the line of fold. n practice, however, whether the folding be done by machines of the above-described character, or lby hand, such symmetrical folding is not attainable.4 During each folding action of the plow, the yet unfolded portions of the margin exert a pulling force upon the portion that is in the act of being folded; andv this pulling force causes the fold to be pressed down upon'a portion of the body of the 'upper lthat is a little to one side of its symmetricallydisposed portion.

The consequence of this unsymmetrical folding is that the foldedupper will not lie flat, but is-more or less twisted. If the upper is of substantial width, as in the caseof vamps and quarters, and asvthe twistingeiect is conned almost entirely to theV foldedmarginal portion, the twist is not very noticeable. rihe twist thus produced in very narrow uppers, however, like tongues, straps, and the like, may be very great. f

It is accordingly an object of the presentk invention to control the aboveedescribed twist. With this end in view, a feature of the invention resides in pulling upon each. marginal portion during the act of folding in a direction opposed to the Vpull exerted by the unfolded portion of the margin. The pull so exerted upon each marginal portionmay, however, within the scope of the invention, be controlled not only to` balancethenatural pull exerted by the unfolded portionl of the margin, but to assume any other. desired value FOLDING Mncnrnn inn METHOD.'

1924. Ysemi m1705323.

. action.

A further object is to provide an improved mechanism .for facilitating the turning of portions of the material yhaving curved margms.

l Another object is to provide an improved cutting mechanism for snipping the margin, at the -will of the operator, prior to the folding operation. y n Y Other and further objects will be explained in the following description, and will be particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims, it -being'understood that the invention' consists of the folding method and machinev a v preferred embodiment of which is illustrated and described herein, and that it is intended to express in thek appended claims all the novelty that the invention may possess.y

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. l is a view side elevation, partly in longitudinal section, of amachine. constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the forward part of the machine, viewed from the sidel opposite to that of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a section of' the forward part of the machine, taken upon the line 3-#3 of'Fig. 2, looking in the direction ofthe arrows; Fig. 4 is a vertical Section taken upon the line l-#l of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the mechanismshown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a view similar v to Fig. 5, showing the parts in dierent positions:,.Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation of Fig. 5, looking f-rom the right; Fig.V 8 is a similar view, looking from the rear of Fig. 5 9 and 10 are sectionstaken upon the lines 9'-'9iand 10,-10` of Figs. 5 and 6,-respectively, looking in the directions of they arrows ,F ig. llisa detail plan, illustrating the operation uponconvexcorners of the upper; 12 is a section taken upon the line 12-12 of Fig. 11, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 13 is a furtherl enlarged, perspective view, partly Vbroken away, 'of the parts illustrated more particularly in Figs. 7 and 8; Figs. 14 and 15 are views of folded uppers; Figs. 16, 17 and 18 illustrate the folding of the uppers shown in Figs. 11i, 15 and 19, respectively; Fig. 19 illustrates an upper folded as illustrated in Fig. 18; Fig. 2O is an enlarged diagrammatic view illustrating the preferred retainer and the folder of the present invention; Fig. 21 is a section takenupon the line 21*21 of Fig. 20, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 22 is a view of an upper prior to folding; Fig. 28 is a further enlarged, perspective view, with portions broken away, illustrating the parts operating upon a concave curve of the upper; Fig. 251 is a view corresponding to Figs. 16, 17 and 18, showing the relative positions of the operating parts of the machine; Fig. 25 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, on the same enlarged scale, illustrating more particularly the knife action; and Fig. 26 is a perspective view of parts of the machine shown detached for clearness.

A shoe upper is shown unfolded in Fig. 22. The margin 2 is intended to be folded upon the body 4 of the upper about a line of fold 6. rllhe line along whichthe edge of the margin 2 will lie after the marginvhas been folded is indicated at 8 (shown dotted in Fig. 22 and full in otheriigures). The margin 2 and the portion of the body of the upper bounded between the lines 6 and Shave successive portions that are symmetrically disposed with respect to the line of fold 6. rThe term symmetry will be used in the specification and the claims in its ordinary sense. Thus. the first two such symmetrically disposed portions are indicated at 10 and 12, disposed on opposite sides of the line 6 along a normal to this line; the next succeeding two are indicated at 14C and 16, similarly disposed; the next succeeding two, similarly, at 18 and 20; the next succeeding two at 22 and 28 and so on throughout the margin of the Lipper,

and along the curved, as well as the straight, portions of the margin.

The portion 10 of the margin of the shoe upper should obviously be folded into contact with its symmetrically disposed portion 12 of the body portion of theA upper; the por-l ion 14e into contact with its symmetrically disposed portion 16; and so on. In practice,

however, the portion 10 is overlapped into contact with the portion 16; the portion 14 into contact with the portion 20; and so on, as is illustrated in Fig. 19. The showing in Fig. 19 is somewhat exaggerated, in order to illustrate more clearly the principle involved. The reas-on why this overlapping folding occurs will be readily understood when it is reflected that, during the folding of the portion 10 toward the portion l2, the yet unfolded portions 14, 18, 22, and so on. of the margin 2 pull upon the portion 10 to displace it towards the portion 16; during the folding of the portion 14 toward the portion 16, the yet unfolded portions 18, 22, and so on, of the margin 2 pull upon the portion 14 to displace it towards the portion 20; and so on. Vfhen the margin 2 is finally folded, the re sulting strains set up in the folded margin will cause the upper to twist, as is illustrated in Fig. 18. An additional objection lies in the creases 25 that are produced in the body of the upper in the neighborhood ofthe lines 6 and 8, more or less parallel to the direction of displacement of the margin 2, as is illustrated in Fig. 19.

A chief object of the present invention is to fold the portion 10 accurately into contact with the portion 12.; the portion leaccurately into Contact with the portion 16and so on, as is illustrated in Fig. 15. No strains or creases will be introduced into the upper by this method of folding, soxtliat the finally folded upper will lie absolutely flat, as isillustrated in Fig. 17.

Jaccording to the preferred method of attaining this result, the portion 10 is pulled away from the iportion 16, or yaway from the adjacent and yet 'unfolded margin 2, in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 22, during the `folding action, to counterbalance the pull 'exerted by the portionsll, 18,22, and so on, of

the yet lunfolded margin 2. vThe portion 10 is thus folded vfiat into Contact with the po-rtion 12. A similar pull in the direction of the arrow, when folding the .portion 1d, will result in the portion 14 being folded flat into contact with the portion 16; and soon.

rlhe preferred mechanism for effecting this result comprises a folder or plow 82 that moves at yfirst parallel to the plane of the upper, along vthe dotted `line 26, 2O 'and .21, and then obliquely Vtoward the plane of the upper, along the dotted line 28. Toward the end of its travel along the `line 26, the folder engages aiportion ofthe margin of the upper, as is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 9. The line 26 is oblique to the line Y6, substantially along the line e-ll of Fig. 8. This oblique movement of the folder along the line 26, there fore, results-ina pulling action, upon the por tion ofthe margin 2 which it engages. in

the directionof the arrow, Fig. 22. The folder thus not only folds the margin, but pulls it, as well. rEhe pulling effect is increased during the oblique movement of the folder along the vline 28. This combined folding and pulling action would not, however, .by itself, suiiice, for the margin would have a tendency to slip past the folder, instead ofbeing` pulled along by it. This tendency is particularly to be guardedagainst because the folder folds the margin through an angle as great as one hundred and eighty degrees. To prevent this happening, therefore, the folder is caused to engage the margin against adownwardly inclined face 246 (Fig. 21) of a member 158 at the end of vits movement along the lpath l.

26. The member 153 may -conveniently be the retainer. During the subsequent movement of the folder along the line 28, folder positively drags the folded margin frictionally past the retainer 153, preventing any slipping, and safely laying the portion of the margin which it engages flat into contact kwithv the symmetrically disposed portion of presses the folded portion of the margin flat against the bod 1v`ortion. The feed ooint and the feed block release their hold onthe upper just before the fold presser has commenced to act, and Just after the retainer has gripped the upper. .They thereupon retrace their movement, during the fold pressing action,

the retainer 153 helping to hold the stocl stationary. The cycle of operation is then repeated. The margin thus becomes folded step by step. v

It will be obvious that the novel folder of the present invention may be embodied in many different types of folding machines. ,1t is therefore unnecessary to distract the attention from the features of novelty of the present invention by describingin detail any particular type of feed inechanisi fold presser or retainer. A full description. ofthe feed mechanism, fold presser and retainer of the illustrative machine may be found in patents to Andrew R. Ridderstrom, Nos. 1,527,395 and 1,527,396, granted February 24, 1925. It will, however, be necessary to describe the folder-actuating mechanism `of the present invention; and as the folderiis preferably operated in synchronism with the fold press# er, and from the same operating mechanism,

it will be desirable to describe very briefly the illustrative fold presser and its operating mechanism.

The fold presser 42 is fioatingly pivoted at 146, Fig. 1, to one end of a. linlr 148 the other end of which is eccentric'ally connected by a v pin 150, with a spiral gear 152. The spiral gear 152 mesheswith a spiral gear 154 upon a driving shaft 66. The exterior surface of the fold presser ris cylindrical, as shown at 156,r so as to rock within a cylindrical bearing 158 provided at the free end of an arm 160 the other end of which is pivoted at 162. The fold presser is spring-pressed towards the support 24 by a compression spring 166 that is mounted upon a rod 168 extending through an opening 143 in the arm 160 and screw-threaded into the frame, as shown at 145. By means of the screw threads, the pressure of the spring upon the arm 160 may be adjusted, the ends of the spring bei-ng con-f lined between the arm and a knurled head 170 upon the rod 168. By means of this construction, the fold presser ispivotally actuated in a plane at right angles to the plane of feed, with a yielding actionof'thefold presser upon the fold, relieving the strain thereon,while permitting a positive-separationof the fold presservfrom the upper by the link 148,

The folder is driven from the same gear 152that drives the fold presser, through'a link 161 that is pivoted, at one end,63,'to the link 148 and, at thevother end 65, to an arm 67. The arm` 67 is rigidly connected toa shaft 69. Movement of the link 161, therefore, results inroclring the shaft 69. A gear 71 that'is rigidly mounted upon the shaft 69 meshes with a rack 73 that is carried on the under side of a horizontally disposed support 75. The support 75 and the rack 73 carried thereby are obliquely disposed to the line of feed. Rocking of the gear 71 is therefore converted into a reciprocating movementV ofthe support 75 in a horizontal plane and oblique to the line of feed. rEhe folder 32 is mounted upon the support 7 5 so as to move therewith. This construction, therefore,

`Causes the folder to reciprocate horizontally along the line 26 oblique tothe line-olf feed. It remains to describe the construction that renders possible. the movement of the folder along the line 28. A sub-support 7 7 is pivoted causes the abutment to act against the tail 83,

effecting the pivotal movement of the folder about the pivot 81. As the support 75 continues its oblique travel, the folder is caused to ride over the downwardly inclined'face 246 (F 21) of the retainer 153, the retainer being situated in the oblique 'line of travel of the folder for this purpose, and being shaped to effect this result.` This engagement of the folder with the retainer is permitted by the sub-support 77 pivoting about the pivot 79 in a direction at right angles to .the direction of pivotal movement of the folder about the pivot 81.l

Upon the return move-ment of the support 75, a spring 87 effects the return of the sub-support 77 to its normal` position, and a spring `89 performs a similar functionvfor the folder 32.L rlhe spring 87 is shown asa plurality of leaf springs fastened at one end between iXed abutments 91 and engaging at the other end an abutment 93 that is springs and is fastened at one end 95 to `a support 365 and its other end engages a hookv vL 97 that is .integral with the folder 32. The end 95 may be fastened by riveting, or in any other desired manner.

The abutment 85 is rendered yielding to permit the folder to yield when occasion requires. To this end, it is slidably mounted in an obliquely disposed groove 99 in the forward portion of the frame of the machine, parallel to a groove 101 in which the support 75 is slidably mounted (see Fig. 3). A block 103 is fastened to a projecting horn 106 of the frame by pins 105, and acts as a common guide between `the slidably mounted members 75 and 85. A coil spring 107 is interposed between the block 103 and the abutment 85 to hold the abutment normally in the extended position indicated in the drawings. The spring 107 is stronger than the springs 87 and 89, so that it will not be compressed until after a force more unyielding than the springs 87 and 89 is opposed to the spring 107. An adjustable stop 109 at the other end of the abutment adj ustably engages the block 103 to adjustably limit the normal position of the abutment. This stop adjustably determines the time of engagement of the tail 83 by the abutment 85, and therefore controls the Ydegree of movement of the folder 32 about its pivots 81 and 79. This movement, in turn, determines the'degree of pull of the folder against the margin of the upper. Depending upon the adjustment of the stop 109, therefore, the pull of the folder against the margin may exactly balance the `natural pull of the unfolded margin, to produce a fold as in Figs. 15 and 17, or it may assume any desired value less than or greater than such value. The pull may, in fact, be so great, as to overbalance the above-mentioned natural pull, to produce a. fold as illustrated in Fig. 14, with a corresponding twist as shown in Fig. 16, opposite to the natural twist, illus trated in Fig. 18. Greases 27 may thus be produced in a direction opposite to the creases 25 of Fig. 19.

Summarizing the operation of the preferred machine, as thus far described, the shoe upper is advanced over the support 24, step by step, by the feed point 30 and the feed block 41; the retainer 153 helps to hold the stock stationary during pauses in the feed; the folder 32 is actuated, first in a plane parallel to the line of feed along a line oblique to the line of feed, and later obliquely to the plane of the material, against the retainer, during pauses in the feed, to initiate a fold in successive portions of the margin, step by step; and the fold presser 42 is actuated step by step, during pauses in the feed, to press dat the folds successively initiated 'by the fold presser' during immediately prior pauses in the feed. Each folded portion is pressed while the next succeeding porw tion is being folded. rChe fold presser and vthe folder are actuated .in synchronism from a common actuating mechanism. A gage 436 (Fig. 2)., secured by a screw at 438, is provided just rearward of the knives 352 and 353, hereinafter described, and engages the edge of the stock as it is Vbent up by the stationary knife 353 to gage the material.

The invention comprises also a novel cutting mechanism for snipping the margin of the stock prior to the folding operation. The snipping is performed, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, by a movable knife 352 (Fig. 23), cooperating with a stationary knife 353. The movable knife is pivoted at 59 to the upper end cf a bracket 61 and is normally maintained in ineffective position by a sprino' 354. rlhe knife provided with a tail 356 that eX- tends downward, as shown. By means of the tail 356, the knife may be caused to be actuated, at the will of the operator. A screw 62 is mounted in an elongated slot of the bracket 61 to `provide. for adjusting the knives.

According to the preferred construction, member 362 is adapted to be interposed between the tail 356 and al plug 363 upon the rear end of the slide 75. rEhe plug 363 may be provided upon a plate 365 .that may be fastened to the sub-support 77 by a fastening member 367. So long as this member 362 is so interposed, the plug 363 will strike it at the end of each return movement of the support. The force will be communicated by the member 362 to the tail 356, which will therefore cause the knife to be actuated about its pivotal point, in opposition to the force ef the spring 354 (Fig. 2). At each forward movement of the support, the spring 354 will return the knife to ineffective position. The knife will therefore cut once to each cycle of operation ofthe folder. To adjust the cutting action, the member 362 is caused to engage the tail 356 not directly, but through an adjustable screw 364.

The member 362 is pivotally mounted at 366 to the top of a vertically slidable rod 368. The pivotal mounting of the member 362 permits it to move back and forth under the influence of the plug 363 and the spring 354, respectively. All that is necessary to render the knife effective, therefore, is to slide the member 362 at the top of the rod 368 vertically into the path of reciprocation of the support 75. In order that such vertical movement may be effected in any position of the support 75, the upper end of the member 362 is made wedge-shaped, as shown.

rilhe vertical movement of the rod 368 may be effected by engaging its lower end by an arm 370. Movement of the arm 370 in one direction will cause the rod 368 to be raised. Movement ofthe arm 370 in the opposite direction will permit the red to fall by gravity out of the way of the reciprocating plug 363. The arm 370 issecured to one end of a rock shaft 151 that extends transversely across the machine, as indicated more particularly in Fig. 3, to the other lend of which is secured a lever 17 6. The lever 176 is connected by a link 178, Figs. 1 and 3, toa lever 179 that is secured to a rock shaft 188. Therock shaft 188 is provided with aflxed arm 183 that is connected with a treadle rod187. By actuating' the treadle rod,the rock shaft 188 will be rocked, and the rocking movement of the rock shaft will be communicated, through the link 178 and the lever 176, to the rock shaft 151, thereby rocking the arm 370.

The rock shaft 188 is yshown provided in Fig. 1 with a second arm and a second treadle rod that, together with the arm 183 and the treadle rod 187, are intended to control the rate of feed vof the feed members 30 and 41, as is more fully described in a. copending'ap- L, plication by the said Ridderstrom, Serial No.

652,169, sied July i7, i923. The feed and t-he knife cuts are thuscontrolled together. Further description is omitted here, because forming no part of the present invention.

The mechanism for operating f the feed members is not described herein, because unnecessary to an understanding of the present invention, as above stated. rlhe feed members themselves, however, are slightly Changed from the construct-ions explained in the above-mentioned patents. lThis change consists in moving the feed point 30 farther to the left, as indicated by the bend 369 in F ig. 24, so as to cause it to reciprocate in a path between the fold presser 42 and the retainer 153. The feed block is correspondingly changed in position. The limits of ref ciprocation are indicated in this figure in dotted lines. The paths of movement of the feed elements and of the folder thus converge towards the fold presser. rThis construction enables the operator to turn corners more readily, as illustrated in Fig. 11, since it brings the feed members closer to the point of operation of the plow.- The relative positionslofthe feed point and the plow, in fact, approximate those disclosed in the ysaid application Serial No. 652,169. rlhe turning is effected about the feed point and the feed block as a pivot, just before the feed pointy rises to retrace its feeding movement, and-be-V fore either the retainer orthe fold presser has gripped the stock. This is very important for it is possible, by means of the abovedescribed treadles, to vary the length of the feed strokes from a maximumto zero. rl'he knives are situatedopposite to the retainer, t

as is also illustrated in Fige( rlhe oblique movement of the folder brings it so close tothe fold presser as to make it necessary to position the latter farther away in the direction of feed than in the said application, Serial No. 652,169. This position- ,ing of the fold presser, however, brings it out of the range of action of curved portions of the stock. To compensate for this, thefold p presser is-provided with two projections 371 Y'and 373 that are separated by an intermediate portion 37 5. The intermediate portion 375'permits the folder to advance towards the fold presser as close as-may be desired; and as it is designed to act on the straighter portions ofthe work, itsgreater distance from the operating instrumentalities does not aifect the operation of the machine. Provi# sion is thus made also for permitting the folder to yield more about its pivots whenk encountering unusualh thick places in the stock, as at seams Concave portions of the work are pressed by the vprojection 373, which is situated rearward of the separating vportion 375, as is illustrated in F ig. 23. The similarly situated proj ection-371 acts on convex portions of the work, as is illustrated in f furthermore, though fully explained, are by no means restricted to the exact embodiments thereof that are illustrated and described herein. Modifications and changes will readily occur to persons skilled in the art, and all such are ccnsideredto fall within the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims;

Vhatis claimed is:

about a line of fold comprisingrelatively feeding the material, and progressively folding successive portions on one side of the line into contact with variablyselectedpredetermined successive portions on the other side of the line. Y

k2. A. method of folding vsheet material about a line of fold that constitutesja line of symmetry for corresponding successive portions of the material on each side of the line, wherebyV each two corresponding symmetrically disposed portions are disposed on opposite sides of the line along a normal to the line', the/said method comprising progressively operating separately upon each of the said. successive portions on one side of the line tofold them each into contact with the corresponding symmetrically disposed portion on the other side of the line.

3. A method of folding sheet material abouta line of yfold that comprises successively folding successive portions of the material Yon one side of theline part way toward the materialen the,r other side of the line, moving. each 'partly'folded'portion so produced towards the next previously folded portion Vin adirection atan angle to the direction of folding, and folding eachof the said :1. A method of folding sheet material partly folded and moved portions the rest of the way into contact with the material on the other side ofthe line.

Ll. A method of folding sheet material about a line of fold that constitutes a line of symmetry for corresponding successive portions of the material on each side of the line, whereby each two corresponding symmetrically disposed portions are disposed on opposite sides of the line along a normal to the line, the said method comprising successively folding successive portions on one side of the line about the line part way toward the material on the other side of the line, moving each partly folded portion so produced towards the next previously folded portion in a direction at an angle to the direction of folding, folding each of the said partly folded and moved portions the rest of the way into contact with the corresponding symmetrically disposed portion on the other side of the line, and pressing the contacting portions together.

5. A method of folding sheet mate Nial about a line of fold that comprises feeding tliematerial, folding the material on one side of the line towards the material on the other side of the line, and moving the said material on the said one side of the line in the direction of feed relatively to the said material on the said other side of the line during` the foldingaction.

6. A method of folding sheet materialv about a line of fold that comprises folding the material on one side of the line into engagement with a member, and frictionally dragging the folded material past the membeiV into contact with theV material on the other side of the line.

7l A method of folding sheet material about a line of fold that comprises gripping the material on one side of the line with a member and advancing the member to feed the material, gripping with a second member the material on the said one side of the line rearward of the gripping member at the end ofthe feeding movement, folding the material on the other side of the line into engagement with the secondfnamed member, frictionally dragging the folded material past the second-named member into contact with the material on the said one side of the line, and turning the material about the firstnamed member as a pivot.

8. A machine for folding sheet material about a line of fold that constitutes a line of symmetry for corresponding successive por-4 that each portion on the said one side of the' line shall be folded into contact with the corresponding symmetrically disposed portion on the other side of the line.

9. A machine for folding sheet material about a line of fold that constitutes a line of symmetry for corresponding successive portions of the material on each side of the line, whereby each two corresponding symmetrically disposed portions the disposed on opposite sides of the'line along a normal to the line, the said machine having, in combination, means for folding portions on one side of the line into contact with portions on the other side of the line, and means for insuring that each portion on the said one side of the line shall be folded into Contact with a portion on the other side of the line that is symmetrically disposed to the portion on the said one side of the line that was next previously folded.

l0. A machine for folding sheet material about a line of fold that comprises means for successively folding successive portions of the material on one side of the line towards the material on the other side of the line and for moving each of the said portions towards the next previously folded port-ion during the folding action in a direction at an angle to the direction of folding, and vineans for pressing tie 'folded portions,

ll. A machine for folding sheet material about a line of fold that constitutes a line of symmetry for corresponding successive portions of the material on each side of the line, whereby each two corresponding syinmetrically disposed portions are disposed on opposite sides of the line along a noraml to the line, the said machine having, in combination, means foi successively folding successive portions on one side of the line towards the material on the other side of the line and moving each of the said portions towards the next previously folded portion during the folding action to cause corresponding symmetrically disposed portions on each side of the line to contact, and means for pressing the contacting parts together.

12. A machine for folding sheet material about a line of fold having, in combination, means for feeding the material, and means for folding the material on one side of the line towards the material on the other side of the line and for moving the said material on the said one side of the line in the direction of feed relatively to the said material on the other side of the line-during the folding action.

13. A machine for folding a sheet of material about a line of fold having, in combination, a folder, and means for actuating the folder substantially parallel to the planev of the sheet to cause the folder toV engage a portion of the material on one side of the' line and for thereupon actuating the folder towards a oortioii of the material on the other'side of the line to fold the engaged portion of the material into contact lwith the materialen the said other side of the line.

14. A machine for folding a sheet of material about a line of fold having, in combina-tion, a folder, and means forfactuating the folder to engage successive'portions'of the material on one side of the line to initiate folds in the material, and for thereupon actuating the folder at an incline towards previously folded portions andtowards portions of the material on the other side of the line to fold the engaged portions of the material into 'contact with the material on the said other side of the line.r

15. A foldingmachine having, in combi" nation, a folder for folding a sheet of material about asubstantially straight line of fold, and means for actuating the v folder along a path oblique to the line into engagement with the material on one side of the line to fold the engaged material about the line of fold toward the material on the other Vside of the line.

16. A folding machine having, in combination, a folder for folding a sheet of mament with the material on one side of theV line to fold the engaged material about the line of fold toward the materialen the other side of the line.

17. A folding machine having, in combination, a folder for folding fa sheet of material about a substantially straight line of fold, and means for actuating the folder along a path parallel to the sheet and oblique to the line into engagement with the material on one side of the line to fold the engaged material about the line of fold toward the material on the other side of the line.

18. A folding machine having, in combination, a folder for folding a sheet of material about line offold a memberv anal means for relatively actuating thel member and the folder past each other along a path oblique to the line, the folder and the member being constructed and arranged to engage the material frictionally bett-Neen themy during their Vrelative actuation past each other to cause the material to be dragged frictionally past the member.

19. A folding machine havingf'in combination, a folder for folding a sheet 'ofpmaterial about a line of fold, a member, and means for actuating the folder to engagea Vportion ofthe material on one side of the line and to fold the material into engagement with the member and past the member into contact with a portion ofthe material ontlie other side of theline to cause'the engaged portion of the 'material to be dragged fric.

tionally past the member.

20. A machine for folding a sheet of material about aline of fold having, in combination, feed meansfor grippingthe'material on one side of the line, means for advancing thefeed means to feed the material,

a` retainerV forV gripping. the material constructed vvand arranged to engage the material rearward of the feed means at the end of the feeding movement, a folder, andk means for actuating the 4folder to engage portion of the material on the other side of the line andto fold the material into engagement with the retainer and past theretainer into contact with a portion of the ma;

terial on the said one side of the line to `cause -O material, a folder for folding the material,v

and means for actuating the folderl past the retainer, the folder' being constructed and arranged to yieldingly engage the retainer during its actuation past the retainer to cause the folder to drag the material past the retainer. i

22. A folding machine having, in combination, a movable support, a folder pivoted upon the support. about two pivots disposed at an angle to each other, and means for moving `the support'to cause the folder to engage material on one side of a line of fold' and to fold the engaged material about the line of fold toward the material on the other side of the'linev of fold.- y 23. A folding machine having, in combination, a movable support, a plow pivoted upon the support about a pivot, the plow being adapted to fold material, means for movi-ng the support, and means for engaging the plow during the movement of the support to cause the' plow to pivot about itsl pivot into engagement with the material to fold the material, the engaging means being normally out of engagement with the plow.

24. `A folding machine having, in combination, a movable support, a plow yieldingly pivoted upon the support about a pivot, the plow being adapted to fold material, means formoving the support, anda yielding member for engaging the plow during .the movement of the support toc-suse the plow to pivot yielding-ly about the pivot into engagement with the material to fold' the ma.-

,terial, the' yielding member being normally ont of engagement with the plow.

25. A folding machine having',` in combination, a movable support, a folder pivoted upon the support about two pivots disposed at an angle toeach'other, means for moving.

the. support,means for yieldingly engaging the folder duringthe movement-of the support to cause the folder topivot'about one of the pivots to cause the folder to fold ma* terial, and means for causing the folder to pivot yieldingly about the other pivot to cause a further folding of the material.

26. A folding machine having, in combination, means for feeding material, a folder for folding the material, a fold presser for pressing. the folded material and means for actuating the folder along substantially a straightdine path at an angle to the line of feed towards the fold presser.

27. A folding machine having, in combination, means for feeding material, a folder for folding the material, means for actuating the folder along substantially a straight-line path at an angle to the line of feed, and a fold presser for pressing the folded material situated at the end of the path of actuation of the folder.

28. A folding machine having, in combination, a folder for folding material, a fold presser for pressing the folder material, means for actuating the fold presser, and means connected to the actuating means for actuating the folder obliquely towards the fold presser along substinitiallyY a straight-- line path.

29. A folding machine having, in combination, a folder for folding material, a fold presser for pressing the folded material, power-actuated means for actuating the fold presser, means connecting the power-actuated means with the fold presser. and means connecting the connecting means to the folder for actuating the folder.

30. A folding machine having, in combination, means for feeding material, a gear having an axis parallel to the line of feed, a support having a rack meshing with the gear obliquely disposed to the line of feed, a folder for folding the material, a fold presser for pressing the folded material, means for actuating the fold presser, and means connected to the actuating means for rocking the gear to effect the actuation of thel folder.

3l. A folding machine having, in combination, means for feeding material step by step, a retainer for holding the material against movement during pauses in the feed, a folder movable at an angle to the line of feed past the retainer to initiate folds in successive portions of the material, and a fold presser for pressing the folds.

32. A folding machine having, in combination, a folder, means for actuating the folder to fold material, a knife for cutting the material, and means controlled by the folder for actuating the knife.

33. A folding machine having, in combination, a folder, means for actuating the folder in two directions, the folder being constructed and arranged to fold material when actuated in one of the two directions, a knife for cutting the material, and means for actuatingv the cutter controlled by the folder duringrits actuation in the other of the two directions.

Se. A folding machine having, in combination, a folder, means for actuating the folder to an effective'position toffold material and to an ine'ective position, a knife for cutting the material', and means under the control of the operator controlled by the folder during its actuation to the ineffective position for actu ating the knife.

35. A folding machine lia-ving, in combination, a movable support, a folder for folding material movably mounted upontlie support, a knife for cutting the material, means for maintaining the knife normally in ineffective position, means for moving the support, means for engaging the folder during the movement of the support to cause the folder to move upon the support to fold the material, and means under the control of the operator constructed and arranged to be engaged by the support during the return movement of the support to effect the actuation of the knife.

86. A folding machine having, in combinatien, a folder for initiating a fold in a sheet of material, a fold presser for pressing the fold initiated by the folder, the fold presser having a portion adapted toV press concave margins of the material, a portion adapted to press convex margins of the material, and a portion separating the said two portions.7 and means for actuating the folder towards the separating portion of the fold presser.

37. A folding machine having, in combination, afolder for initiating a` fold in a sheet of material, a fold presser for pressing the` fold initiated by the folder, means for feeding the material from the folder to the fold presser, the fold presser having a portion adapted to press concave margins of the material, a portion adapted to press convex margins of the material, and a portion separating the said two portions, the said two first-named portions being situated rearward ,of the separating portion in the line of feed,

and means for actuating the folder obliquely to the line of feed towards the separating portion of the fold presser.

38. A folding machine having, in combination, a movable support, a folder pivoted upon the support about two pivots disposed at an angle to each other, a fold presser for pressing the fold initiated by the folder, means for feeding material from the folder to the fold presser, the fold presser having a portion adapted to press concave margins of the material, a portion adapted to press convez; margins of the material, and a port-ion separating the said two portions, the said two first-named portions 1oeing situated rearward of the separating portion in the line of feed, means for moving the support obliquely to the line of feed towards the separating por- Y tion of the fold presser, means lfor yieldingly engaging the folder during the movement vof the `support to cause the folder to pivot about one of the pivots to cause the folder to fold material, and means for causing the'folder to pivot yieldingly. about the other pivot to-v 'wards' the sogar-atingy portion of the fold presser to cause a further folding-of the'ina-V ferial. f Y

39. A.machine for fold-ing sheet material about a line of fold having, in combination, a folder for folding the materialen one side of the line into contact ywith the vmaterial on the other side of the line, and means con` means for causing the folder to exert apull` on the successive portions of the material during the folding action in a directionopposed to the pull exerted by the yet unfolded portions of the material.

41. A machine for folding sheet material about a line of fold having, in combination, means for feedingzthe'material, a folder yfor folding the material, Land means for actuating the folder to pull the material in the direcl tion offeed. at an angle to the line of fold during the folding action. Y n f 42. A folding machine having, in combination, a fold presser, a feed block and a feed point for feeding material to the fold presser step byv step, a retainer for holding the material against movement during pauses in the feed, the retainer being spaced from the fold presser in the line of feed, and means for moving the feed block and the feed point back and forth between, but not beyond,the positions occupiedby the retainer and the fold presser. y n

43. A folding machine having, incombination, a fold presser, a feed block and a feed point f-or feeding material to the fold presser step by step, aretainer for holding the material stationary during pauses in the feed, a folder, means for moving the folder d1-l agonally to the direction of feed towards the fold presser, means for'moving the `feed block and the feed point back and 'forth betweenv the retainer and the fold presser, whereby the paths of movement of the feed block and the feed point and of the folder converge towards the yfold presser, and means whereby the retainer grips the kstock after the feed block and the `feed point release the material and before the fold presser grips the material.

44. A folding machine having, in combination, means for feeding material, a folder for initiatinga fold ,in the material, means for actuating the folder in a direction oblique to the line of feed along substantially a straightline path, and a fold presser for pressing the 4fold initiated by the folder, the fold presser b eing situated immediately in' front of the limiting forward position of the folder in the line of feed.

4.5. A folding machine'l'iaving, in combination, a support,means for feeding material over the support, a retainer rearward of th feedingmeans in the line .of feed for holding the' material against the support, a folder for initiating a fold in the material, means for actuating thefolder in a direction oblique to the line of feed along substantially a straightline path'to a position immediately forward of the retainer inthe line of feed, and a fold presser for pressing the' fold initiated by the so'l folder, the fold presser being situated immediately infront ofthe limiting forward position of the folder in the line of feed.

46. A folding machine having, in combination, a support, means for lfeeding material over the support, a knife for slitting the man ginof thematerial, a retainer oppositely disposed to the knife and rearward of the fee-d` ing'fmeans in the line of feed for holding the materialvagainst the support, a folder for initiating a foldin the margin ofthe material,1means for ,actuating the folder in a direction oblique tofthe line of feedalong substantially a straight-line path to. a posivtion immediately forward of the retainer theline of feed, `and a fold-presser for pressing the fold initiated by the plow, the fold presser being situated immediately in fronty of ai@ limiting position of ai@ folder in the 1 line of feed.`

47. A folding machine having, in combinai tion, a kfolder for folding asheet of material Ystep by step, a member, and means for relatively actuating the member andthe folder intermittently .past each other, the folder and thev member being constructed and arranged to engage successive portions of the material fri'ctionally between them during their relative vactuation past each other to .causeithe ysaid successive portions of the material to be dragged frictionally past' the member. i

48. A folding machine having, in combina* tion, a su )porn-means for actuating the support, a older movably mounted uponthe support, and means normally disengaged from the folder for engaging the folder` at a predetermined point in the actuation of the support to actuate the folder to engage ma-y terial on one side of a line of fold to fold the engaged material along theline of fold toward thematerial'on the' other side of the line of fold. y

49. A folding machine having, incombina- Y tion, a support, means for-actuatingthe support, a folder yieldingly mounted upon the support, and ayielding member normally disengaged from"the folder for engaging the folder at a predetermined point in the actuation ofthe support to actuate the folder.

50. ln a folding machine, in combination, folding instrumentalities comprising a meniber, a folder reciprocated in a right line across :the member to fold the work thereabout,v

Y gin about said member, and-means for feeding the work past said folder.

53. ln'a folding machine, in combination, a work-support, a folder reciprocable in a right line and having a' margin-folding face, means for reciprocating said folclor, a inember across which said face is projected, and means for feeding the work past said folder.

54. Ina folding machine, in combination, a work-support, work-feeding means, a folder movable in a right line, and means for reciprocating the said folder along the right line to engage material on one side of a line of fold to fold the engaged material about the line of fold toward the material on the other side of the line of fold.

55. A method of folding sheet material about a line of fold that comprises folding successive portions of the material on oneside ofthe line part way about the line towards the material on'the other side of the line in a direction substantially at right angles to the line, moving each partly folded portion so produced towards the nent previously folded portion in a direction substantially parallel to the line, and folding each of the said partly folded and moved portions the rest of the way into contact with the material on the other side of the line.

56. A method of vfolding sheet material about a line of fold that comprises feeding the material, folding successive portions of the material on one side of the line part way about the line towards the material on the other Yside of the line, moving each partly folded portion in the direction of feed, and folding each ofthe said partly folded and moved portions the rest of the way into contact with the material on the other side ofthe line.

57. A method of folding sheet material about a line of fold that comprises folding successive portions of the material on one side of the line part way about the line towards the material on the other side of the line, and

moving each partly folded portion towards the next previously folded portion in a direction substantially parallel to the line.

58. A method of folding the margin of a shoe upper over upon the body portionthereof about a line of fold that constitutes a line of symmetry for corresponding successive portions of the material on opposite sides of the line, whereby each two corresponding symmetrically disposed portions are disiosed on opposite sides of the line along a normal to the line, the said method comprising folding successive portions of the margin on one side of the line each into contact with the corresponding symmetrically disposed portion of the body portion on the other side of the line.

59. A methodl of folding the margin of a shoe upper over upon the body portion thereof about a line of fold that constitutes a line of symmetry for corresponding successive portions of the material on opposite sides of the line, whereby each two corresponding symmetrically disposed portions are disposed on opposite sides of the line along a normal to the line, the said method comprising folding successive portions of the margin on one side of the line eac-h into contact with the corresponding symmetrically disposedv portion of the body portion on the other side of the line and pressing the contacting portions together.

60. A method of folding the margin of a sheet of flexible non-metallic material'over upon the body portion thereof that comprises folding successive portions of the margin and pulling upon each successive portion in a direction away from the adjacent unfolded margin.

61. A method of folding the margin of a sheet of flexible non-metallic material over upon the body portion thereof that comprises folding successive portions of the margin, pulling upon each successive portion in a direction away from the adjacent unfolded margin during the folding operation, and pressing the contacting portions together.

62. A machine for folding the margin of a sheet of flexible, Vnon-metallic material over upon the body portion thereof about a line of fold that constitutes a line of symmetry for corresponding successive portions of the material on oppositesides of the line, whereby each two corresponding symmetrically disposed portions are disposed on opposite sides of the line along a normal to the line, the said machine having, in combination, Ymeans for folding successive portions of the margin on one side of the line each into contact with the portions of the body portion on the other side of the line, and means. for insuring that each marginal portion shall be folded into contact with the corresponding symmetrically disposed portion of the body portionA A 63. A machine for folding the margin of a lili sheet of flexible, non-metallic material over upon the body portion thereof about a line of fold that constitutes a line of symmetry for corresponding successive portions of the material on opposite sides -of the line, whereby each two corresponding symmetrically disposed portions are disposed on opposite sides of the line along a normal to the line, the said machine having, 1n combinatlon, means for Y folding successive portions of the margin on one side of the line each into contact with the correspondingVv symmetrically disposedl portion of the vbody portion on the other side of the line, and means for pressing the contacting portions together. v Y

64. A machine for folding themargin of a sheet of flexible non-metallic material: over upon the body portion thereof having, in

combination, means for folding successive portions of the margin over upon the body portion thereof, and means for pulling upon each successive portion in a direction away from the adjacent unfolded margin.

65. A machine for folding the margin of a sheet of flexible non-metallic material over upon the body portion thereof having, in

combination, means for folding successive portions of the'margin over upon the body portion thereof and, during the folding operation, for pulling upon each successive portion in a direction away from the adjacent unfolded margin, and means for pressing the folded portions of the margin into contact with the body portion.

66. A folding machine having, in combination, a work-support, a folder movable in substantially a straight line in a direction substantially parallel to the work support, and means for reciprocating the folder along substantially the said straight. line to engage material onone side of a line of fold to fold the engaged material about the line of fold toward the material on the other side of the line of fold.

67. A method of folding the margin of a shoe upper over upon the body portion thereof about a line of fold, comprising relatively feeding the shoe upper, and folding successive marginal portions on one side of the line into contact lwith variably selected predetermined successive body portions on the 

